In the aftermath of the crowdfunded Veronica Mars movie, it was inevitable that someone would ask the question of geek godhead and patron saint of cancelled shows Joss Whedon.

Speaking to BuzzFeedabout the possiblity of taking Firefly to Kickstarter and reaping similar dividends from the fans, he said, “That’s what everybody wants to know about. Uh, yeah. My fourth feeling when I read about [the Veronica Mars Kickstarter campaign] was a kind of dread. Because I realised the only thing that would be on everybody’s mind right now.

“I’ve said repeatedly that I would love to make another movie with these guys, and that remains the case. It also remains the case that I’m booked up by Marvel for the next three years, and that I haven’t even been able to get Dr Horrible 2 off the ground because of that. So I don’t even entertain the notion of entertaining the notion of doing this, and won’t.

“Couple years from now, when Nathan [Fillion]’s no longer [on] Castle and I’m no longer the Tom Hagen of the Marvel Universe and making a giant movie, we might look and see where the market is then. But right now, it’s a complete non-Kickstarter for me.”

Joss Whedon with the cast at the Firefly 10th anniversary reunion at San Diego Comic Con 2012

Whedon added that the sheer cost of another Serenity-sized movie, along with the varied expectations of the browncoat fanbase would also be too prohibitive.

“We come to Veronica Mars to hear her talk and hear her father talk. But Firefly/Serenity, it’s kind of a different animal — and then there’s also the question of what kind of animal it is. Because some people are talking about Firefly episodes. Some people are talking about [a new] Serenity. I think anything we could get off the ground would be appreciated by the fans. But what form it would take is I think under some debate.

“For me, [Kickstarter] doesn’t just open the floodgates. God knows, things are cheaper now than when we made even Serenity. Good effects can be done in a different manner. Nor is that universe all about spectacle either. But it is a tad more expensive — and a little all-consuming! And of course, there’s the other fear: What if it’s not that good? I can do something that’s not that good — that’s fine. But if I do that and it’s not that good, I’m going to feel really stupid.

Because I’m too busy to deal with it, I did have a moment of just, “Oh my god! I’m in trouble now.” I’ve always said, “Yes, I’d love to do another one,” and it’s still true. But I sort of got slapped in the face with it. Or probably will.”